Kingston upon Thames 11+: preparing for the Tiffin schools

The Tiffin School and The Tiffin Girls' School are among London's most competitive super-selectives. A clear guide to their two-stage, English-and-Maths entrance test.

The Tiffin School & The Tiffin Girls' School two-stage entrance test (school-set): key facts

Typical test date: Stage 1 is typically in early October of Year 6; Stage 2 follows in November
Papers: Two-stage: Stage 1 (English + Maths, multiple-choice) then a written Stage 2 for those who progress
Duration: Stage 1 papers are approximately 50 minutes each
Subjects: English and Mathematics only — no verbal or non-verbal reasoning — based on Key Stage 2 content to the end of Year 5
Indicative qualifying threshold: Super-selective: an indicative Stage 1 working target is around 80%, with the highest scorers invited to Stage 2 — treat as indicative and confirm with each school
Registration window: Register directly with each school; the window typically opens in the summer term of Year 5 — check each school's admissions page for exact dates

Why Kingston upon Thames is different

Kingston's two state grammar schools — The Tiffin School (boys) and The Tiffin Girls' School — are super-selective. There is no catchment gate on the main test: children are ranked on performance and the highest scorers are offered places, so families from across south-west London and Surrey compete for a small number of places. That makes the effective standard far higher than in catchment-based counties such as Kent or Buckinghamshire.

Unusually, the Tiffin tests assess English and Mathematics only — there is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. Both schools set their own papers rather than using a single named exam board, and run a two-stage process: a multiple-choice Stage 1 in the autumn, then a written Stage 2 for the strongest Stage 1 performers a few weeks later.

Because so many Kingston-area families also consider the Sutton super-selectives a short distance away, it is common to prepare for both. The Sutton schools do test reasoning, so a child sitting both Tiffin and Sutton needs broader preparation than Tiffin alone requires — plan early which schools are genuinely in scope.

How the The Tiffin School & The Tiffin Girls' School two-stage entrance test (school-set) is structured

Stage 1 (typically early October of Year 6): two multiple-choice papers, English and Mathematics, of approximately 50 minutes each, with answers recorded on a separate sheet and computer-marked.
Content is drawn from the Key Stage 2 curriculum up to the end of Year 5 — there is no verbal or non-verbal reasoning.
Stage 2 (typically November): English and Mathematics again, but in open-answer (written) format, sat only by children invited after Stage 1.
Each school sets its own papers and publishes its own admissions criteria; the two Tiffin schools run separate processes.
Places are heavily oversubscribed and awarded on test performance, with each school's published oversubscription criteria deciding between equally-placed candidates.

Notable grammar schools in Kingston upon Thames

2 super-selective grammar schools in Kingston (the Tiffin schools), with nearby Sutton grammars also in reach.

The Tiffin School (boys)
The Tiffin Girls' School
Wilson's School (Sutton)
Sutton Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School

How to prepare your child for the Kingston upon Thames 11+

Because the Tiffin tests cover only English and Maths, depth in those two subjects matters more than breadth. Build genuine reading-age and comprehension strength and secure, fluent Maths well above the standard Year 5 level, rather than spreading effort thinly across reasoning formats your child will not be tested on here. If you are also targeting Sutton, add reasoning practice separately — see our super-selective grammar schools guide for how to plan a two-school campaign.

Prepare specifically for the two-stage shape. Stage 1 rewards fast, accurate multiple-choice work and clean answer-sheet technique; Stage 2 rewards written, open-answer Maths and structured English where method and clarity earn marks. A child who has only ever practised multiple-choice can be caught out by the Stage 2 written format, so build open-answer practice into Year 6 from the start.

Use full, timed papers under realistic conditions and a clear errors log to find the marginal marks that decide super-selective outcomes — our guide to using practice papers well sets out a method. For a starting benchmark across English and Maths, our free diagnostic at grammarprep.uk/onboarding shows where your child currently stands.

Frequently asked questions about the Kingston upon Thames 11+

Which grammar schools are in Kingston upon Thames?

Kingston has two state grammar schools, both super-selective: The Tiffin School (boys) and The Tiffin Girls' School. Many Kingston-area families also apply to the Sutton grammar schools a short distance away.

What does the Tiffin 11+ test cover?

English and Mathematics only — there is no verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. The content is based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum up to the end of Year 5.

How does the two-stage process work?

Children first sit a multiple-choice Stage 1 in English and Maths, typically in early October of Year 6. The highest scorers are then invited to a written, open-answer Stage 2 (English and Maths again) a few weeks later, usually in November, on which places are decided.

Are the Tiffin schools super-selective?

Yes. There is no catchment gate on the main test — children are ranked on performance and the highest scorers are offered places, so the effective standard is among the highest in the country.

Do the Tiffin schools use GL or CEM?

Neither — both schools set their own papers rather than using a single named exam board such as GL Assessment or CEM. Always confirm the current format on each school's own admissions page.

When do we register for the Tiffin tests?

You register directly with each school, typically during the summer term of Year 5. Exact opening and closing dates vary by school and year, so check each school's admissions page well in advance.